Otezla and Diarrhea: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2023

For Plaque Psoriasis "Otezla helped clear some of my psoriasis, but my whole body aches horribly. I did get nausea and diarrhea at the beginning, but it went away, however, my whole body is in pain, so I’ve decided to stop taking it. I feel like an eighty-year-old with horrible pain, and I wasn’t aware that this was a side effect, I thought it was menopause. As soon as I stop taking it, my body aches stopped."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2021

For Plaque Psoriasis "Started taking a few weeks ago and finally stopped taking it yesterday. Still get nausea and diarrhea after taking each dose. The last few days, my symptoms seem to worsen. I become severely depressed, couldn't concentrate, and felt lightheaded and short of breath all the time. Yesterday, I had to leave work because I became so shaky and lightheaded I almost passed out. I have no history of any of these issues and strongly feel it was the medication. After researching, the negative effects rate is higher than the success rate. I'm mad I started Otezla in the first place."

• Bat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2021

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I'm currently taking Cosentyx and Otezla for the absolutely life-sucking psoriatic arthritis pain that developed after I had a thyroidectomy for cancer, and it's my experience that both of these drugs together have helped my pain/skin a lot, and neither helped me much on their own. Crazy. For people experiencing an upset stomach with Otezla, you need to eat a little before taking it, and that feeling will go away, and the diarrhea will also subside."

• Sum...
• January 16, 2022

For Plaque Psoriasis "I started Otezla yesterday morning, trying to treat scalp psoriasis. I have had severe diarrhea since yesterday afternoon, lasting all through the night. I also developed a severe headache and nausea, though I have not vomited yet. Since I’ve only had 1 pill and been this sick from it, it’s not for me. I’m sad I can’t take this medication, as I really had high hopes."

• Bat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 1, 2021

For Plaque Psoriasis "I've been on Otezla for going on 5 weeks now and have seen a nice improvement in the breakthrough psoriasis I developed after 3 years of being on Cosentyx (which I'm still on). Otezla was prescribed as a bridge medication to help Cosentyx, and I must say it's has certainly helped with both my skin breakouts and the crippling psoriatic arthritis I have experienced for the past 5 years. I have not suffered from any of the reported issues like nausea or diarrhea because I eat a little something before I take Otezla, problem solved. I do get the occasional migraine, but I can’t say with certainty it's the Otezla causing it."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2021

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I have just started Otezla. It’s a bit rough with diarrhea, but I can manage. That said, I have been trying to work with Otezla Connect. They are simply awful. I am into call number six with no return calls. Terrible business model."

• Sal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2022

For Behcet's Disease "Was on Otezla for 2 and 1/2 months. Tried to hang in there. The mouth ulcers got worse, then I noticed a spot on my leg... Not sure if it has anything to do with Behcet's. When the doctor said it was psoriasis. I'm going to a dermatologist tomorrow, it got to be about 2 inches long and an inch wide, and then another one appeared. My lip became very ulcerated, and I had vaginal ulcers, which I have not had for several years. I had diarrhea, nausea, and headaches. My doctor and I finally decided that after that length of time my body could not tolerate it. The doctor decided that I needed to go on a prednisone regimen. It cleared up my mouth, but my lips kept getting worse. I am off the prednisone now for 2 days, and now I'm getting more ulcers in my mouth. I wish I had never heard of this drug."

• Cai...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 31, 2021

For Plaque Psoriasis "I recently went off Otezla after a year of use because not only did it not even help, my psoriasis got so much worse. The plaques I already had got thicker and larger, and just before I stopped taking it, my entire chest and neck broke out in over 20 new spots, and people kept telling me it looked like I was breaking out with a rash. I had to go back to using my greasy steroid cream, but I can't use it on every spot or I'd go through a tube a day. And now I have to suffer with rebound rosacea on my face due to a reaction from the steroids. And since I am one of the lucky few who get psoriasis on their eyelids, I now have to get a different ointment to use on my face, and it burns like mad. And my insurance doesn't want to cover it without jumping through hoops every time I need a refill because, without insurance, one tube costs $330. My life is now more miserable since Otezla because along with all of the side effects like upset stomach, diarrhea, and headaches, I got none of the benefits."

• Flo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 12, 2025

For Plaque Psoriasis "The redness and the itchiness on the legs did stop, and legs cleared up. Diarrhea continued to be a minor problem but kept me from normal activities like walking the beach at sunrise. It was one of three drugs that were classified as maybe weight loss negative, as in losing weight. I enjoyed that, but not the diarrhea. After 8 months, with Dr.'s help, took myself off Otezla."

• Ell...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 14, 2022

For Plaque Psoriasis "Be aware-this medication has a lot of negative side effects!! I was on Otezla for approximately 4 months, until I could no longer cope with all the side effects. The first week-stomach pain, diarrhea, I felt dizzy and couldn't focus. As I continued to take the medication, I started feeling extreme anxiety, panic attacks, physically and mentally stressed and depressed, it tore my guts up so bad it felt like I may have been trying to get an ulcer. Along with the weird stomach issues, I started not having an appetite whatsoever, which caused me to lose 20 lbs. (which I didn't need to lose). This made me feel weak and sicker. I also had bad insomnia, and if I did sleep, I awoke exhausted!!! I wish it had worked-but in my 6 years of dealing with my plaque psoriasis, this med has been the worst side effects I have had from a med. My skin did show some improvement, but the negative impact on my mental/physical well-being was just not worth it for me. I'm so happy for those it works for!"

• Iva...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2023

For Plaque Psoriasis "I have to say that this is not for me. Side effects after the second day: diarrhea, headache, nausea, and today was the worst day after 10 days. I had diarrhea and vomiting at the same time! lol, it was really disgusting, so I'm gonna stop taking this. I did not notice an improvement in my psoriasis. I will continue to use my betamethasone ointments. Good luck!"

• Pal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2019

For Plaque Psoriasis "I have only been on it 3 weeks. One loose stool and one time bloated feeling, but don't know that I can attribute these to taking the Otezla. Seems to be working!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 25, 2025

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Cut down on plaque but didn't remove all of it, soft stools."